Labels: 81st Texas Legislature, carol kent, chris turner, diana maldonado, joe moody, kristi thibaut, robert miklos, speaker, wendy davis

I've been asked one question again and again the past few days:

How's the new Speaker going to be on conservation issues?

I haven't talked to the Speaker-apparent, Rep. Joe Straus of San Antonio, but I've talked to other folks, and I've been reading up. There was an interview he gave to Texas Monthly last year that is illustrative. Read the whole thing here, and here's an excerpt:

Q: You chair the Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Efficiency. Do you believe Texas has the potential to be a leader in the production of alternative energies?

A: In many respects, Texas already is a leader in the production of renewable energy. We are the national leader in wind energy, and we're making strides in solar power and biomass. I authored and passed a bill that enhances the state's existing energy efficiency programs. It requires all electric providers to participate in efficiency programs, adds new incentives for the sale of energy efficient products, enables customers to better manage their own electric consumption, and updates public building energy codes in order to increase conservation.
I think we are getting to the point where renewable energy represents such a promising market that the large energy companies no longer view it as a small research investment, but a serious source of energy that will help power the energy economy. I see the day fast arriving when alternative energy is a mainstream source to power Texans' lives.

This passes the sniff test: I think Joe Straus really cares about building a green economy in Texas, and continuing our state's historical position as the leading energy state. Contrast Rep. Straus's lucid, sensible remarks above with those of Rep. Tony Goolsby, who tried to sound like he was turning green, but couldn't quite sound convincing. Here's Goolsby in an interview with KERA radio in Dallas from October talking about his commitment to sound conservation policy on air quality:

"I know we're working hard with the Texas air quality. Power plants that are being built are going to add on to the nuclear which helps the fresh clean air. The new coal plants are not going to be putting out as much carbon monoxide."

Voters sent Goolsby back home to Dallas on Election Day, selecting Carol Kent instead. And Texas House members are certain to elevate Rep. Straus to Speaker on Tuesday. There's a lesson there:

Texas voters want politicians of every stripe to do something to clean up our air quality, generate cleaner power... and improve the economy while they're at it.

Leaders who understand that get elected. Those who don't, increasingly, get to give up the gavel.

The Texas League of Conservation Voters looks forward to working with Rep. Straus as Speaker, and have high hopes that his appointments to key committees will be folks we can work with to pass good laws for "the fresh clean air."

Labels: carol kent, clean energy future, joe straus, tony goolsby

On Sunday, the Dallas Morning News spotlighted a number of important races for the Texas House, including three top priority races for the TLCV Political Committee.

• Robert Miklos against Mike Anderson (District 102, Mesquite)
• Carol Kent against Rep. Tony Goolsby (District 102, North Dallas, Richardson)
• Rep. Allen Vaught against Bill Keffer (District 107, East Dallas)

The TLCV-PAC has endorsed all three of these leaders for the Texas House. Rep. Vaught earned an A+ in our last scorecard. Pro-conservation Texans need his continued leadership in Austin. Carol Kent has been running an outstanding campaign against Rep. Goolsby, who makes promises about being for clean air and clean energy, but then votes against them almost every time. And Robert Miklos has a great chance for an open seat against Mike Anderson in Mesquite.

Folks in Dallas County are reminded to think about clean air, clean energy and clean water and then to cast a vote for a clean legislature in Austin tomorrow!

Labels: allen vaught, carol kent, robert miklos

Many Texas House candidates put their opinions on a small list of key issues on their campaign websites. Perhaps of necessity, these lists are short and vague. They talk about things that everyone can be for and no one can be against: happy kids, plentiful jobs, low taxes, free cupcakes.

Few candidates list any conservation issues among their issue priorities. A glowing exception is Carol Kent, running for District 102 in Richardson, Dallas County. Carol puts a top conservation issue right there on her list of priorities. Here it is:

Texas continues to have some of the dirtiest air in the nation and childhood asthma rates continue to rise. We need energy solutions that make sense for our citizens and our pocketbooks.

Here in North Texas, we struggle to meet minimum federal air quality standards. Clean air isn’t just important for our health, it’s important for business. Clean air helps our economy by allowing existing businesses to grow and new businesses to locate here. It helps our workers by keeping them healthy and attracting bright workers who want clean air for themselves and their families.

I suggest the development of public/private partnerships between our government and clean fuel producers to develop cleaner and more efficient means of energy production. The legislature should encourage the research and development in conjunction with our universities and research institutions.

These investments will make sure that Texans have a healthy environment and clean, affordable sources of energy at home for the long term. We can continue to grow and still be green.

Carol Kent has the right position on the right issue at the right time. She will be an outstanding advocate for the children of her district and for kids statewide who have a right to breathe clean air. That's why the Texas League of Conservation Voters Political Committee endorsed and is supporting her campaign to defeat Rep. Goolsby.

But don't just take our word for it. Carol Kent has also been endorsed by the Dallas Morning News, Texas State Teachers Association, SEIU and Annie's List, among others.

Labels: carol kent, endorsements, Texas House